Page 8 of The Barbarian’s Claim (Not-So-Savage Barbarians #4)

Eight

EINAR

I rritation over Uttin’s interference made me seethe as we headed for the clan leader’s tent.

Orthorr had been moved from the healing tent a few days prior, but still had Uttin doing the job of clan leader in his stead.

He was getting older. The aftermath of the attack was more grave than if the same treatment had been given to a younger male.

But until he held trials for a new clan leader, it was he who decided if I would take Matthew with me on the journey. And I would not be going without him.

Uttin went in first, while Matthew trailed behind us both.

He was wary and uncertain, and silent as the grave.

He would not speak unless I made him. I would not demand it unless necessary.

Orthorr was sitting up on his bed, a scowl on his face as several women fussed over him.

He’d told me once after he took over from the clan that he didn’t like to be coddled.

His age didn’t make him weak, and he was getting sick of the special treatment.

His gaze flicked over to us, and I saw his eyes light up as he seized the opportunity to be free of the women. He cleared his throat, his voice filled with false appreciation as he bit out, “Ladies. I am needed on clan matters. I will be fine for the time being.”

They looked put out being shooed away, but none could protest with Uttin and me waiting. Once they were gone, Orthorr eyed us suspiciously.

“I want to thank you for giving me an excuse to have them leave, but given the looks on your faces, I don’t think I’ll like what you have to say.”

My grunt of acknowledgment made him sigh. We had been friends long before he took over the clan, despite our age gap. I was much older than Uttin, though, and didn’t appreciate his intervention.

“I will go on a journey north.”

Orthorr blinked, confused. “Okay… What is the problem?”

I gave him a bland look. There was no problem. But Uttin didn’t see it that way.

“He intends to bring Matthew with him. I told him tributes cannot leave the clan, but he will not listen to reason,” Uttin snapped.

As we didn’t speak in the common tongue, I knew Matthew didn't understand us. He hovered half behind me, watching us with a deep frown on his face. I would need to teach him more. It would grow tedious to translate for him.

“He is right, Einar,” Orthorr said. “He is a tribute. It would be unsafe to bring him into the forest. He is untrained.”

I gritted my teeth. Orthorr was my clan leader, so I could not speak to him the way I spoke to Uttin. “I am his protector. He is safe with me.”

“That is also a problem,” Uttin butted in again. “He is your tribute, not your claim. He has been introduced to the clan. He is supposed to be meeting potential suitors. Should he not find one soon, he can join the warriors on the next journey to the Halleik clan to try his hand there.”

An unfamiliar feeling roiled in my stomach at the thought of handing Matthew off to another. He had already been neglected once. Not many knew of his condition, either. Once they knew, they might not accept him readily. Orn was proof of that.

“He is not ready. He does not understand our tongue.”

“He has been here for weeks!” Uttin snapped. “He must go before the weather turns!”

“Watch your tone, brother,” I growled. I was not afraid to put him in his place. He might be a strong warrior, but I was stronger.

Orthorr put up his hand, stalling us both. “What does Matthew say about this?”

All eyes swung to my tribute, and he shrank back under the scrutiny. Orthorr switched to the common tongue, speaking to him directly.

“Matthew. Have you found your match here among us?”

His eyes flicked momentarily to me before he shook his head.

“Are you ready, then, to move on? You will be introduced to other clans to see if you can find a bondmate who suits you. You are not required to find one here.”

Matthew’s eyes grew wide and fearful. He had not reacted well to his last introduction.

It was too overwhelming for him. He opened his mouth to share his thoughts, but the words did not leave his throat.

I could see it on his face when he gave up.

Tears filled his eyes, and that tug I felt in my gut at his introduction pulled again.

I despised that look in his eyes. Defeat.

He would go along because he did not believe he had the voice to argue.

Someone would use that to their advantage.

I knew this. Matthew was gentle and good-natured.

He would agree to whatever was asked merely because he was ashamed of the tremor in his voice.

From the way he reacted to my actions, I knew he expected harsh treatment.

He was ready to accept that treatment as his only option.

I couldn’t allow that.

“I will claim him,” I said, interrupting Uttin’s attempt to coax Matthew into agreeing to be introduced to the Halleik clan. The tent went quiet at my words, and Orthorr looked shocked.

“What did you say?”

“I said I will claim him,” I growled. I would not allow another to hurt Matthew. Innocents had to be protected. I’d believed this my whole life. Matthew needed protection.

“It is not your decision to make!” Uttin shouted, making Matthew jump and me snarl. He was scaring him.

“Uttin, quiet,” Orthorr ordered. His gaze locked on me again. “He is right. It is not your choice. It is Matthew’s.”

Jerking my head around, I looked at the little tribute half hidden behind me, his hand clutching my tunic. Even with us speaking the common tongue, he still looked confused and afraid. I reached for him, gripping his chin to force him to look at me.

“Do you wish to stay with me? I will protect you.”

His eyes searched mine, looking for the right answer. He wouldn’t find it in me. It was his choice. But I could not protect him if he left. To follow him would create strife between clans. Orthorr would not allow it.

He nodded once, but Orthorr would need his words.

“You must say it. Yes or no.”

A pained look passed over his face, his discomfort over speaking clear. It was one word. He had to get it out. I would not ask him to say more.

“Y-y-yes.”

MATTHEW

I wasn’t entirely sure what was happening.

They only spoke in the common tongue for part of the conversation.

What little I did know scared me. Uttin wanted to take me to another clan and introduce me to more barbarians.

I would leave the safety of Einar’s care.

Given my luck in life, I didn’t think it would go well for me.

So when Einar offered for me to stay with him, it was the only choice.

It wouldn’t be what Finn said happened here, but I didn’t expect that in the first place.

I’d never dared to hope to fall in love.

Staying with Einar, basking in the security he offered while learning to hunt and protect myself, was more than I’d ever hoped for.

It might not have the warmth of love, but there were much worse things than a loveless bonding.

“You cannot allow this!” Uttin argued, looking at Orthorr. “He is frightened! He chooses out of duress! He deserves the right to choose someone more!”

More? What more could I ask for? I felt spoiled to be so protected already.

“Uttin, enough. You cannot argue his choice any more than Einar can. It is Matthew’s choice to make,” Orthorr said, an air of authority in his tone.

Uttin looked furious, but no one seemed inclined to back down. His attention whipped to me. “You do not have to do this. There are more options. You will be protected in any clan we bring you to.”

Like I was protected by Einar? I found that unlikely.

The best I could hope for was indifference like Orn.

And once they knew of my inability to speak, they might toss me away.

Or worse, hurt me for not speaking correctly.

It had happened before. No. I appreciated Uttin’s care for me to decide for myself, but if I had a choice, I wished to stay with Einar.

I shook my head at Uttin, moving closer to Einar to show without words what I wanted. He let out a frustrated growl, glaring at the other two.

“This is wrong. He is not in his right mind. You dishonor him.”

Einar snarled in response and took a threatening step forward. Only my grip on his tunic kept him from closing the distance between them. Thankfully, Orthorr interrupted before a fight could break out.

“Uttin, you can go. We will discuss this further privately.”

It was written on Uttin’s face that he didn’t want to. If it had not been the clan leader who said it, he might have refused. But Finn said the clan leader made all the decisions. He had no other choice. With one final glare, he stormed out, mumbling under his breath as he left.

Orthorr shook his head in exasperation. “He should calm by your bonding ceremony. But until then, you cannot take him into the forest. I?—”

Einar spun on his heel and stormed out without a word. Startled, I hesitated where I stood. I wasn’t sure if I should follow or not. I wanted to, but it seemed rude to walk out like that when speaking with the clan leader.

Orthorr sighed, drawing my attention back to him. “You will get used to that. He is not one of many words.” He gestured for me to sit. “Join me. I have a few questions for you.”

I resisted the urge to wince. There were times I wished I had no voice at all.

Then no one would ask me to speak. It was only the knowledge that I was in the presence of the clan leader that kept my face blank.

I didn’t know him, and I didn’t want him to hate me and send me away from Einar.

I wanted the safety my protector offered.

Sitting in front of him, I braced myself for what was to come. Like with Einar, I had no choice but to speak now. It would do no good to fight it.

“You need not be afraid, Matthew. You are not in trouble,” Orthorr said, his voice soothing. I looked up at him, trying to find the lie, but his expression was soft and patient. I nodded to show I understood.

“I heard from others that you volunteered. Unfortunately, not many tributes do so. Why did you?”

Frowning down at my lap, I shrugged. I did not want to admit it out loud. But when I looked up, Orthorr waited patiently for me to use my words. I grimaced.

“I-I-I w-would n-not have survived an-n-nother year. I h-had n-n-no home.”

He hummed a sort of sympathetic sound. “You thought here might be better?”

Again, I shrugged. I’d had no expectations coming out here. Only the driving force to live. I didn’t want to dishonor my family by dying alone in the street. But if I were going to die, I wanted to spare someone else a worse fate in the meantime.

“You put great faith in the goddess when you came out here, Matthew. And after the betrayal of Orn, I understand your reluctance to leave the safety of Einar’s care. But I hope you know you don’t need to settle. You can have more time if you wish.”

I didn’t know what he was talking about with Orn. Einar refused to tell me what had happened with him. Only that he wasn’t fit to be my protector. But it didn’t matter. I wasn’t going to change my mind. I shook my head.

Orthorr studied me for a few moments before nodding. “Alright. Unlike Uttin, I’m aware that not all bondings are for love. For some, safety is more important.” He gave me a significant look. He knew that was why I was choosing Einar. He accepted that without argument.

“Perhaps during your bonding ceremony, I will focus on partnership instead of love. It will be?—”

His sentence was cut short when Einar strode back in. He looked angry, his glare dark and murderous. I was worried about what had put that look in his eye, but he surprised us both when he kneeled in front of me and slipped a necklace over my head.

“You are my bondmate. Welcome to our clan.”